Dr. Ernest S. Chang
Professor, BML/Department of Animal Science and Section of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior

Ernie Chang's research involves the comparative physiology of aquatic invertebrates, particularly lobsters and crabs. Several students have co-authored papers with Dr. Chang on research they did during BML classes. His research interests include regulation of behavior, environmental stress responses and hormonal control of molting and development. At BML he co-teaches Physiological Adaptation Projects (NPB 141P), Physiological Adaptation of Marine Organisms (NPB 141) and Colloquium (BIS 123). On the UCD campus he co-teaches Comparative Endocrinology (NPB 128). Dr. Chang is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Gary N. Cherr
Professor, BML/Departments of Environmental Toxicology and Nutrition

Dr. James S. Clegg
Professor Emeritus, BML/Section of Molecular & Cellular Biology

Jim Clegg's research emphasizes the role of stress proteins and molecular "chaperones" in how organisms respond to stress and how tolerance to stress is induced. He has applied molecular techniques to help determine why commercially valuable oysters suffer from mass mortalities in the summer. His research interests include comparative biochemistry, particularly involving molecular and metabolic adaptations of invertebrates to environmental extremes. Dr. Clegg was a Senior Fulbright Research Fellow in Belgium.

Dr. Brian Gaylord
Assistant Professor, BML/Section of Evolution and Ecology

Brian Gaylord studies ecological biomechanics and biological-physical coupling in marine coastal ecosystems. He is interested in general patterns in biology that arise from physiologically or environmentally imposed physical constraints. Research topics include the means by which intertidal plants and animals cope with breaking waves, oceanographic influences on species range limits, the dispersal ecology of seaweeds, and forest-flow interactions in kelp beds.

Tessa Hill's research focuses on marine records of climate change, utilizing corals and microfossils to reconstruct past oceanographic conditions. Specific interests include the role of methane in climate change, the importance of deep ocean circulation to the Earth's climate system, and anthropogenic impacts on coastal systems. At BML, Dr. Hill teaches GEL/ESP 150C, Biological Oceanography. On the UC Davis campus, Dr. Hill teaches GEL 16 (The Oceans) and GEL 228 (Topics in Paleoceanography).

Dr. John Largier
Associate Professor, BML/Department of Environmental Science and Policy

Dr. Largier's research in coastal oceanography is directed at better understanding and resolving ecological and environmental issues through the study of currents, transport, and mixing in ocean, bay and estuary waters. Specific interests include, larval dispersal, patterns of coastal pollution, coastal ocean observing systems, and marine protected areas. He currently teaches Transport and Mixing in Estuaries (ECI 264B) and Coastal Oceanography (ESP 198/298).

Dr. Steven G. Morgan

Steven Morgan studies how marine populations, communities, and ecosystems are regulated by nature and anthropogenic environmental factors in a changing global environment. His research on the ecology and behavior of invertebrates and fishes examines both adult and larval phases of marine life cycles with the ultimate goal of understanding the evolution of life histories in the sea and better managing coastal resources. Specific interests include larval behavior, migration, predation, phenotypic plasticity, rocky shore communities, wetland health and marine reserves. At BML, he teaches Population Biology and Ecology (BIS 122/122P), Marine and Coastal Field Ecology (ESP 124), Trends in Marine Ecology (ECL 290) and co-teaches Colloquium in Marine Science (BIS 123). On the UCD campus he co-teaches Marine Ecology: Concepts and Practices (ECL 214).

Dr. Eric Sanford

Eric Sanford's research focuses on understanding how environmental factors influence species interaction, community dynamics, and species' geographic range limits along the coasts of California and Oregon. His work with marine intertidal invertebrates address both ecological and evolutionary processes and uses integrative field and laboratory experiments to explore biogeographic patterns.

Dr. Donald R. Strong
Professor, BML/Section of Evolution & Ecology

Don Strong's research focuses on two major areas. He studies the world of subterranean food webs and how the insects that harm plants in coastal communities are controlled by diseases, parasites and predators. He also is an expert in invasive species, especially those that have recently arrived in salt marshes.

BML Director Susan Williams studies the marine ecology of seagrass and seaweed communities. She uses physiological tools to assess how marine plants provide ecosystem services (primary productivity, nutrient cycling, and food web support) and also how they respond to environmental stress. Many of her studies involve how to improve the restoration and conservation of seagrass meadows. Much of her recent research is devoted to the ecological effects of invasive non-native marine species (mussels, anemones, seaweeds) on seagrass communities. Dr. Williams is an Aldo Leopold Fellow in Environmental Leadership, as well as a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences.

In recognition of the enthusiasm and excitement he brings to his teaching, Joe Cech was awarded the 2001 UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement and is an expert in marine and freshwater fishes. The $30,000 award, considered to be the largest of its kind in the country, honors faculty members who demonstrate both skillful teaching and remarkable scholarly achievements. Dr. Cech takes a physiological approach to questions of how salmon ready themselves for migration from their home streams into the salty ocean. He has worked on the endangered Delta smelt and has studied effects of methyl mercury and pesticides on fish performance (including swimming). At BML, he teaches Field Studies in Fish Biology (WFC 102L).

Dr. Deborah Elliott-Fisk
Professor, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology

Debbie Elliott-Fisk is a biogeographer who studies how coastal ecosystems change during the Quaternary, as well as over shorter time periods with human influences. Physical-biological interactions and dynamics are a key part of her field-based studies, as are habitat modeling and GIS analyses. She is interested in the conservation, restoration and adaptive management of nearshore, intertidal, sublittoral and adjacent upland ecosystems, especially along the California coast. Dr. Elliott-Fisk teaches two BML-related undergraduate courses, Habitat Conservation (WFC 155) and Coastal Ecosystems (WFC 157), as well as other undergraduate and graduate courses.

Dr. Richard Grosberg
Professor, Section of Evolution & Ecology

Rick Grosberg studies how organisms evolve to recognize themselves from others (self/nonself recognition systems), and how these systems facilitated the evolution of biological complexity (e.g., multicellularity, social behaviors, parental care).  He primarily studies clonal marine invertebrates (e.g., anemones and sea squirts), in part because they exhibit far more complex behaviors than previously thought, and also because they offer exceptional opportunities for experimental studies.  Dr. Grosberg was the recipient of a Distinguished Teaching Award from the Division of Biological Sciences. Using BML as a base, he teaches Invertebrate Zoology (EVE 112).

Dr. Ted Grosholz
Specialist, Cooperative Extension, Department of Environmental Science and Policy

Ted Grosholz's fields of interest include population dynamics and community ecology, invasion biology, conservation biology and biodiversity of marine and estuarine systems, applications of ecological theory to coastal experiments that answer basic ecological questions and provide solutions to management problems.

Dr. Richard Karban
Professor, Department of Entomology

Rick Karban studies interactions between plants and their herbivores. He is interested in induced responses of plants to herbivory and whether these changes affect plant or herbivore populations. For almost 20 years, Rick Karban has studied the caterpillar populations on the Bodega Natural Reserve. He developed ultrasound techniques to determine whether caterpillars are infected by a parasitic fly and then determined that the survival of the caterpillars depended on the plant species (lupine vs. hemlock) they chose to feed upon. He and his students have also studied caterpillar behavior: why do they bask on top of vegetation? At BML he teaches Terrestrial Field Ecology (ECO/ENT/PBG 225).

Dr. Gabrielle A. Nevitt
Professor, Section of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior

Dr. Nevitt studies sensory ecology. Her current research focuses on olfactory foraging and navigation in sub-Antarctic Procellariiform seabirds, though she has also worked extensively with spiny lobsters, salmon and other marine and freshwater fish species. Her teaching interests include animal behavior and sensory biology.

Dr. John J. Stachowicz
Assistant Professor, Section of Evolution and Ecology

Jay Stachowicz is a marine community ecologist with interests in the factors and processes that shape the distribution and abundance of marine plants, invertebrates, and fishes.  In addition to basic research projects on plant-animal interactions and chemical defenses of marine organisms, he is involved in researching the factors that make marine communities susceptible or resistant to invasion by exotic species.  Dr. Stachowicz teaches the BML-related courses Marine Ecology (EVE 198-15) and Invertebrate Zoology (EVE 112), both of which involve field trips to BML. Dr. Stchowicz received the Mercer Award from the Ecological Society of America in 2004 and is the Master Advisor for the Marine Biology Area of Emphasis.